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Connecticut to receive nearly $500,000 to fight chronic disease

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Tuesday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that the Connecticut Department of Public Health is one of 61 organizations nationwide to receive a share of $103 million in grant money intended to fight chronic diseases. The health department will receive $493,891 through the government. The money is intended to be used to promote tobacco-free living, exercise and healthy eating, and preventive care.

Chronic diseases are responsible for 75 percent of health care costs in the United States. The root causes of chronic disease are often related to economic, social, and physical factors such as tobacco use or a lack of places to exercise. The Community Transformation Grants awarded today will help states and communities address these challenges by supporting prevention programs proven to make a positive impact on health.

Grantees may also focus on creating healthy and safe environments. Grantees will have an additional focus on reducing health disparities since, in addition to lacking access to the health care they need, many lower–income Americans, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underserved populations often have higher rates of disease.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation/funds/index.htm.

Pink Picnic to benefit Yale Cancer Center

Monday, September 26, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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BJ’s Wholesale Club and Yale Cancer Center are teaming up to hold their second annual ‘Pink Picnic” on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at noon at the BJ’s Membership Club in Wallingford. The event is free and open to everyone, especially breast cancer survivors, their families, friends and colleagues. All attendees will receive a complimentary lunch and gift bag.

During the month of October, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BJ’s will be sponsoring a Pink Ribbon Campaign to raise money for breast cancer research.  The sale of “pink” merchandise, such as Folgers® Coffee, Pink Ribbon Clothing, and Q-tips®, in their stores will generate a donation to support breast cancer research at participating National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Yale Cancer Center will be a recipient of a portion of those proceeds as the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in Connecticut.

Speakers will include a breast cancer survivor who will share her inspirational story and experience with the disease, and a physician from Yale Cancer Center, Anees B. Chagpar, MD.

Dr. Chagpar is Director of the Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven
and is nationally recognized for her continued efforts in breast cancer care and research. She is an international leader in breast surgery. Jocelyn Maminta, News Channel 8’s Emmy-nominated medical reporter and host of Connecticut Style, will also speak.

Sign up to attend by Sept. 28 at www.bjsforpink.com

Categories: breast cancer, General, health

Events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Monday, September 26, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County is presenting events in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month throughout the month of October.

The Center for Women and Families of Fairfield County (CWF) has been helping individuals for 115 years. They provide free confidential and bilingual services to victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault to those who reside in Trumbull, Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe and Stratford.  According to the Center:

  • 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence sometime in their life and that every 15 seconds a woman is abused by her partner;
  • Every 15 seconds a woman is abused by her partner;
  • Researchers estimate 3.3 to 10 million children witness assaults by one parent against another each year;
  • Every day, 3 victims die as a result of domestic violence.

Four candlelight vigils are scheduled to take place remembering and honoring victims and survivors of domestic violence – free to the public – as well as a special event by World Fitness Zumba Studio. Times, dates and places of events are listed below:

  • Thursday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., 2nd Annual Candlelight Vigil at Monroe Town Hall and first Annual Clothesline Project, 7 Fan Hill Road, Monroe.  Inclement weather: Town Hall.  Contact Stephanie Stacy at The Center for Women and Families for more information at 203-334-6154/sstacy@cwfefc.org
  • Thursday, Oct. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m., the 4th Annual Candlelight Vigil & Clothesline Project will be held at the Gazebo, outside of the Trumbull Library, 33 Quality Street, Trumbull.   Inclement weather: Library Community Room. Contact Sue Horton at 203-452-5129 for t-shirt for Clothesline project or Steve Hodson at 203-260-1369/Steve@HodsonRealty.com for more information.

  • Friday, Oct. 14, “Taking Care of You” Day with St. Vincent’s Hospital and “Swim Across the Sound” Mobile Mammography (free with appt. and doctor’s prescription) at the Westfield Trumbull Mall, Main Street in Trumbull, Food Court, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. 3rd Annual Candlelight Vigil at The University of Bridgeport, 126 Park Avenue in Bridgeport.  Vigil will be held at the Student Center.
  • Thursday, Oct. 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., 2nd Annual Candlelight Vigil at Sherman Green, Post Road Green in Fairfield.  Inclement weather: First Church Congregational Wakeman Hall.
  • Friday, Oct. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m., 1st ever World Fitness Zumba Event, 380 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe.  Event will raise money and awareness for The Center for Women and Families.  $25.00 to participate and space limited.  Call: 203-880-9828 to reserve a spot.

At two locations. The Clothesline Project will be part of The Center’s kickoff to honoring survivors and victims of domestic violence. The ‘Clothesline Display’ of t-shirts with messages and illustrations decorated by survivors or community members who wish to honor victims and survivors will be on display at the Monroe Town Hall and Trumbull Library throughout the week prior to the Vigils in those towns. Residents can pick up a free t-shirt at the library/Town Hall to display their own stories of survival, hope and encouragement. The project is part of an international network and there are approximately 500 clothesline projects nationally and internationally displaying 50,000 to 60,000 shirts.

This year, the project is also incorporating The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) where men and boys will have the opportunity to sign a pledge sheet as a promise to never to commit, condone or remain silent about domestic or sexual violence.

Visit http://www.cwfefc.org/ for more information.

Categories: General, health, safety

Northbridge Health employees participate in diabetes walk

Friday, September 23, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Pictured in Photo (Left to Right): Susan Brown-Smith, Teresa Moore, Erika Rodriguez, Cillie Reddick, Amelia Jones, Lori Fredericks & grandson, Allison Bruno, Jessica Jackson, Marie Guerrier, Hope Russell, Denise Loeb, Malika Martin, John Loeb

The staff at Northbridge Health Care Center, Bridgeport, came together Sunday, Sept/ 18 at Savin Rock, West Haven, to participate in the “Step-Out” Walk to benefit the American Diabetes Association.

The Northbridge Team consisted of 26 employees who helped raise over $2500 for diabetes research and education.  Northbridge Health Care Center was a sponsor for the Walk’s “Memory Mile”, honoring those who lost their battle with diabetes.  The Team is also hosting an additional fundraiser on Sept. 30; any staff member can purchase an overstuffed pulled pork sandwich and a beverage for $5.  All proceeds will benefit the Walk event.

Team Captain and Northbridge Community Liaison, Denise Loeb, has lived with type 1, insulin dependent diabetes, for over 23 years.

The Mission of the American Diabetes Association is to Prevent and Cure Diabetes and improve the lives of all those affected by diabetes.  To fulfill this mission, the American Diabetes association funds research, publishes scientific findings, and provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families, health professionals and the public.  The Association is also actively involved in advocating fir scientific research and for the rights of people with diabetes.

Northbridge Health Care Center, located in the Greater Bridgeport area, offers a wide variety of services designed as a bridge to improved health and rehabilitation. The focus is on people – the residents and the families cared for by a dedicated and devoted team of experienced professionals. Northbridge Health Care Center is managed by Athena Health Care Systems.

Categories: diabetes, General, health

State gets $1 million to help at-risk families

Friday, September 23, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Connecticut will receive  $1,026,087 from the Department of Health and Human Services to help at-risk families voluntarily receive home visits from nurses and social workers to improve maternal and child health, child development, school readiness, economic self-sufficiency, and child abuse prevention.  As part of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, these grants are funded by the Affordable Care Act and are awarded to State agencies that applied for the grants in 49 States across the country.

Lists of grant awardees are available at: http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2011tables/110922homevisiting.html.

The funds will be used by state agencies to support  programs that bring nurses, social workers, or other health care professionals to meet with at-risk families in their homes.  They work with families to evaluate their circumstances, help parents gain the skills they need to succeed in promoting healthy development in their children, and connect families to the kinds of help that can make a real difference in a child’s health, development, and ability to learn.

Research has shown that home visiting programs can improve outcomes for children and families, including improving maternal and child health, reducing child maltreatment, increasing parental employment, and improving the rate at which children reach developmental milestones. HHS undertook an exhaustive review of the research evidence on different home visiting programs to identify the models that have been shown to work.

Under the MIECHV program, states must use at least three-quarters of the funding provided to implement one or more of these evidence-based programs.  The program also supports continued innovation by allowing up to 25 percent of funding to carry out and evaluate new approaches.

For more information on HRSA’s MIECHV program, please visit mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit www.HealthCare.gov.

Categories: General, health

American Cancer Society cards now for sale

Thursday, September 22, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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What? You say it’s too early for bucolic, wintry images like that one up there? Nonsense!

This week, the American Cancer Society announced its 2011 collection of holiday designs and (as well as some all-occasion cards) available on line at cancer.org/neholidaycards.  Donations garnered from the card orders help fund the organizations mission to help cancer patients get well, stay well, find cures and fight back/

Ten new designs like the one above have been created and another five have a limited quantity of cards available for order.  They can be left blank for personal notes or customized and professionally printed at no additional cost.  Printed on the back of each card is a sentence acknowledging that the card represents a donation made to the American Cancer Society.

Each card comes with a white envelope. Horizontal cards are 6¼ inches wide by 4½ inches tall; vertical cards are 4½ inches wide and 6¼ inches tall. Expected shipping is approximately three weeks after placing the order.

The donation you make in return for your cards covers printing and shipping costs to help the American Cancer Society continue to provide services to cancer patients and their loved ones. The donation amount is at the donor’s discretion and it may be 100 percent tax deductible.

Orders can be made online at cancer.org/neholidaycards. Donations may be doubled through matching gift programs. For more information, contact Nancy Dest at 800-952-7664, ext. 4630, or cancer.org/neholidaycards

Categories: General

St. Vincent’s partners with Aquarion for House of Hope

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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At the recent ribbon-cutting for House of Hope, from left: Charles Firlotte, President and CEO of Aquarion Water Company; Rachel Giliotti of St. Vincent’s, House of Hope Co-Chair; Carolyn Giampe of Aquarion, House of Hope Co-Chair; and St. Vincent’s President/CEO Susan L. Davis, RN, EdD. Ribbon cutting was yesterday.

St. Vincent’s Medical Center, 2800 Main St., Bridgeport, and Aquarion Water Company have launched “House of Hope” — a food drive running from Sept. 21 until Nov. 15 to reduce hunger throughout the Greater Bridgeport area.

Visitors to St. Vincent’s Medical Center, employees of the hospital and Aquarion, and the public are being asked to drop off donations in the “House of Hope” – a special shed located at the hospital entrance for the duration of the drive.

Items collected will be delivered to area food banks. The organizers ask that only nutritious, non-perishable items be donated. They suggest canned fish, meat, soup, stews, fruits and vegetables as well as pasta, peanut butter, cold cereal and powdered milk.

People wishing to make a monetary donation to the House of Hope may do so at the hospital information desk. For more information, call Rachel Giliotti at St. Vincent’s at 203-576-6370.

Categories: General, health

Griffin on Joint Commission list

Thursday, September 15, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Griffin Hospital in Derby has been name one of the nation’s top-performing hospitals on key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.

This is the first time that The Joint Commission is recognizing top performers and including them in its “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report.  Griffin was one of 405 U.S. hospitals and critical access hospitals earning the distinction for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance and the only Connecticut hospital named.

Griffin was recognized by The Joint Commission based on data reported about evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve the effectiveness of care for certain conditions including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. Inclusion on the list is based on an aggregation of public accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the previous calendar year, in this case 2010.

Griffin Hospital was recognized for achieving these thresholds for all of the measures for which it was eligible:  Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgical Care. Of the 405 top performer hospitals only 162 (40%) achieved recognition in all four measures. This would put Griffin in the top 5% of the 3,099 hospitals submitting data to The Joint Commission.

Categories: General, health
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